Page 131 of The Persistence of Thornes
Halle is going to be my wife the moment she’s ready.
CHAPTER 33
HALLE
“Could you carry him?” I beg Caleb as a crutch slips out from beneath Casen and he barely catches himself from falling. We haven’t even made it into the house, and already, I’ve sprouted gray hairs. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
It hurts, knowing he’s in so much pain, and I can’t help but worry that if he takes a tumble now, he’ll end up with another injury.
“I’m not letting your boyfriend carry me into the house.” Case, whose leg is now in a cast, pauses at the bottom of the porch steps and frowns in concentration. After a moment, he shoves onecrutch at Quinn, and when that hand is free, he clutches the railing and hops up the first step. His twin stays by his side, braced to catch him if he loses his balance.
“I don’t know how I’m going to survive this,” I grumble as Caleb drapes an arm over my shoulders.
A gust of wind whips my hair around my face, making me curl in on myself. The sky is an ominous gray, and according to the forecast, it’s going to snow this afternoon.
So, along with the other items on my long list of worries, I’m stressed about Casen having to navigate snow and ice with a broken leg. Whether he likes it or not, I plan to drive them to and from school until the cast comes off and he can put weight on his foot. If he’ll let me, I’ll even walk him to the door of the school to ensure he doesn’t slip and fall. But something tells me he’ll fight me on that.
“One day at a time. I think that’s how most people survive things.”
“It’s going to be at least six weeks.” It’ll be well into December by that time.
“Again,” he says with a soft laugh, holding me tighter. “One day at a time.”
“You probably think I’m insane.”
Case finally makes it to the porch, his free arm lifted in triumph.
I let out a breath of relief, my lungs deflating.
“No, I think you’re a concerned sister and guardian. I’d be more worried if you weren’t acting this way.”
“Daddy!” Seda darts across the lawn, straight into Caleb’s arms. “How’s Casen?”
“He’s doing okay, sweetie.”
She throws her arms around me next and squeezes with a surprising amount of strength.
I take a small breath. It’s all I can manage when she’s holding me so tightly. “You can go in and see him if you want.”
She doesn’t have to be told twice. A heartbeat later, her feet are thundering up the stairs, and she disappears into the house.
I hate that she hasn’t seen much of her dad since he insisted on staying with us at the hospital, but I can’t deny his presence was a huge comfort.
How on earth do people do it? The stress alone is enough to have me questioning if I even want children.
“I’m going to order pizzas, if that’s okay with you,” Caleb says, guiding me to the porch.
It’s nearly five already, and after sleeping in Casen’s hospital room for two nights, I’m far too tired to think about cooking. More than anything, I want a hot shower. While Casen’s room was equipped with all the facilities, the water pressure was pathetic.
“Pizza sounds perfect.”
“Seda? Boys?” Caleb slides his phone out of his pocket and sidles over to where the kids have gathered on the couch. “Pizza?”
“Yes, please,” Casen groans, his head resting on the back of the couch. “Pizza.”
“I’m down.” This comes from Quinn.
“Pizza?” Seda sits up straight, face alight. “I love pizza.”
